Rakomelo

An all Greek “cooked” cocktail

Rakomelo is a local Greek alcoholic drink combining raki or tsikoudia with honey (meli) and several spices, such as cinnamon and cardamom or other regional herbs.

It has an amber bright, warm color and as a blend of strong alcohol and honey, it features a naturally sweet, delicate but yet spirited taste with a subtle presence of spices, while it leaves a luscious, velvety feel to the palate.

Because of its two key ingredients, raki and honey, rakomelo is a digestive spirit, high in powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids and it is traditionally used by many Greeks as a practical remedy when people suffer from sore throat and coughing situations.

The history of rakomelo goes back to the 12th century, when the Peloponnese peninsula was under Frankish occupation, although, other stories place its origins on the islands of Crete and Amorgos or other Cyclades’ islands.

Nowadays, rakomelo is largely produced in Crete and other islands of the Aegean Sea, as well as on the Greek mainland. It is mainly consumed during the winter as a warm drink, with a sweet treat like pasteli or halva but you will also enjoy it ice cold as a shot, when visiting Greece’s islands in the summer!